The Pentagon is right now piling more pressure on the Labor Government to increase its defense spending or risk the future of that AUKUS agreement. Let’s bring in today’s talk as we have Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr live for us in Brisbane and in the studio our very own Lizzie Pearl as well. Team. Thanks for being with us. Paul, to you first. This is a really pointed message from the Trump administration. Another one it must be said. Does the PM need to start rethinking our spending commitment?
Senator Scarr
Absolutely. I think this is another wake up call, and the Coalition has been advocating for an increase in our defence spending. At the moment, it’s just a touch above 2%. The Coalition believes it needed to reach 2.5% within five years, and then within a 10 year timeline, reach 3% and this isn’t just the Coalition calling for this. Sir Angus Houston, who was our most senior military officer between 2005 and 2011 and co-led the defence strategic review in 2023 has also called for an increase to 3% so this is a really serious issue.
Clint Stanaway
I mean, why do you think the government is dragging its heels then?
Senator Scarr
Well, that’s for the government to explain, but I think we need to act. We need to act now. And the other point is the Prime Minister needs to have a face to face meeting with President Trump. It’s simply not good enough that all of our other strategic allies, including other members of the QUAD have had face to face meetings, and these are the sorts of issues you’ll discuss in a face to face meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Albanese.
Clint Stanaway
OK, what’s at play here? Lizzie, do you think is it more posturing from Donald Trump?
Lizzie Pearl
I don’t think so. If you ask a lot of experts, AUKUS is at risk. This is an agreement that came in under the previous administration, under Joe Biden. Now we have Donald Trump. Is a whole different person, and this deal is that Australia will get three nuclear submarines sometime in the 2030s if it will not negatively affect us military capabilities. So now that Donald Trump wants all countries, or all US allied countries, to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence. That is something that is very much up for debate, and something which we could be at risk.
Clint Stanaway
Yeah, fair point, Paul, just a quick one to you. Relations between Australia and US are not on edge, but you know, at least we have New Zealand. Anthony Albanese will today prepare for bilateral talks with PM Luxon. Mr. Luxon has described Australia as the only ally in a world of uncertainty. Is it enough though?
Senator Scarr
Well, certainly New Zealand is a close ally, and our history goes back so far. I was reflecting on the fact that one of our most significant national days, Anzac Day, is the Australian New Zealand Army Corps day, and that just demonstrates, underlines the history between our two countries. So we must progress that relationship. We’ve got the People to People links. Advancing the relationship is really important. We should also remember that we have a five eyes intelligence Alliance, and one of those five eyes is New Zealand, along with Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Clint Stanaway
OK, another big issue this morning, home buyers are pleading for help after this new investigation found serious property price under quoting, with a record number of homes selling well above their advertised price. Lizzie, to you, do you feel for home buyers right now? It is, it is tough.
Lizzie Pearl
Oh yeah. And I was one last year, you’d go to these open homes, and the agent would quote you a price. You’d go to the auction, and you’d be priced out within 35 seconds. And but you sort of get used to it. So whatever they’d say, you’d add another 300 or $400,000 so as a home buyer, you sort of do factor that in. But look, it’s not it’s not okay, it’s not fair.
Clint Stanaway
Based on that. Paul, what should or what can governments do here?
Senator Scarr
Well, look, governments can do things. Real Estate Agents aren’t permitted to engage in misleading and deceptive conduct, so if they’re giving price ranges which are below what the seller is saying, they’re prepared to accept that’s a breach of the law, and can I just encourage all of your viewers, if you come across these circumstances, ring your local Department of Consumer Affairs. So consumer affairs should be all over this. It’s completely unacceptable. Under quoting is completely unacceptable. Potential buyers are incurring costs in terms of building inspections, in terms of getting finance approvals, and it’s just not fair. It’s not fair to buyers, and the emotional toll clean on buyers as well, of getting their hopes up that they might be in the running to purchase a property and then find that it was all smoke and mirrors. It’s not good enough.
Clint Stanaway
want to change pace really quickly. It’s a little gross. Is it okay to pop pimples by the seashore? Let me explain – a couple lazing about on Bondi turn heads after going to town on each other’s zits. Paul, I heard you say, no.
Senator Scarr
No, no, no, no, no. It is so wrong. No,
Clint Stanaway
All right. Well, he’s pretty emphatic. Lizzie. What about you?
Lizzie Pearl
I’ll let you in on a little secret. If I see a pimple on someone, a glaring pimple, my mind goes blank. I cannot think of anything else but that pimple, and I just want to squeeze it. But I would not do that in public. I would not do that on Bondi Beach.
Clint Stanaway
Paul, thanks for your time.
Lizzie Pearl
No.
Clint Stanaway
I’ve just got a little.
